Banner clubtail

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Gomphus apomyius

Type: invertebrate

Status: threatened

Species Guide

Banner clubtail

Gomphus apomyius

Species Type: invertebrate

Conservation Status: threatened

IDENTIFICATION

Reaching 1.5”, the banner clubtail has a brown thorax with light green frontal stripes and brown shoulder stripes that are divided by a pale stripe. The face is plain and eyes are light blue. Males have a wide abdomen, clubtail, with large, lateral yellow spots at the end. Female coloration differs slightly and is overall more yellow and green.

Distribution & Habitat

The banner clubtail exists in a disjunct population in New Jersey’s coastal plain in clean, acidic streams with sandy substrate and organic debris. The full range of the species is from Virginia to Louisiana and west to Texas.

Diet

Nymphs feed on aquatic invertebrates; adults on flying insects.

Life Cycle

Banner clubtails are one of the first to emerge in the spring and are active from late April through mid July.

Current Threats, Status, and Conservation

Due to limited habitat and rarity in New Jersey, the banner clubtail is considered a Threatened species.

References

Text derived from the book, Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Jersey. 2009. By Allen E. Barlow and Jim Bangma.

Edited and updated by Karena Di Leo in 2011.

Scientific Classification

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Odonata
  • Family: Gomphidae
  • Genus: Gomphus
  • Species: G. apomyius